Hose clamp

ABSTRACT

A hose clamp including a band having end portions extending in an overlapping relationship through a housing. One end portion is secured to the housing while the opposite end portion is arranged for displacement through the housing. The housing encloses a screw mechanism with a screw worm in engagement with a row of gear teeth formed in the displaceable end portion of the band and by which the hose clamp may be tightened about an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention concerns an improved hose clamp consisting of aband bent to an angular shape the end portions of which extend inoverlapping relationship through a housing. One end portion is securedto the housing whilst the opposite end portion is arranged fordisplacement through the housing. The housing encloses a screw mechanismin engagement with a row of gear teeth formed in the displacable endportion of the band and by means of which the hose clamp may betightened about an object.

Hose clamp constructed in this manner are available on the market inmany versions. The feature common to all prior-art hose clamps is,however, that the screw mechanism is a screw worm the axis of rotationof which extends in the longitudinal direction of the band. However, inany situations where the available space is highly restricted it hasbeen found difficult to first apply a hose clamp designed as indicatedabove about an object, such as a hose, from one direction and then, bymeans of a screw driver or a spanner, to tighten the hose clamp fromanother direction, at right angles to the direction of application. Thisproblem often arises for instance when hose clamps are to be mounted inthe engine space in passenger cars or trucks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate this problem. In the hoseclamp in accordance with the invention, the screw mechanism of the hoseclamp comprises a screw worm the rotational axis of which is arranged inparallel with or essentially in parallel with a normal passing throughthe centre of the annular configuration of the hose clamp. With a hoseclamp configured and constructed in this manner it becomes possible toperform the tightening operations on the clamp from the same directionas the one in which the clamp is applied about an object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following withreference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a hose clamp in accordance with the invention, in aview from above,

FIG. 2 illustrates the clamp in a lateral view, and

FIG. 3 illustrates the hose clamp likewise in a lateral view but turnedover a quarter of a turn with respect to FIG. 2 and shown on an enlargedscale and partly in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The hose clamp consists of a band 1 the end portions 2 and 3 of whichextend in overlapping relationship through a housing 4. One end portion2 is attached to the housing 4 whereas the opposite end portion 3 isarranged to be displaceable inside and through the latter. The secondend portion 3 is formed at one of its longitudinal marginal portionswith a row of gear teeth 5.

The housing encloses a screw mechanism. This mechanism consists of atoothed wheel 6 meshing with the row of teeth 5, and a screw worm 7, thelatter in turn engaging with the teeth of the toothed wheels 6. Therotational axis of the screw worm 7 is, in accordance with the teachingsof the invention, positioned in parallel with or essentially in parallelwith a normal 8, see FIG. 2, passing through the centre of the annularconfiguration of the hose clamp.

By manufacturing a hose clamp with the improvement in accordance withthe invention mounting of the clamp is made esier. After application ofthe hose clamp about an object 9 it is possible to turn the screw worm 7by means of a tool which is moved into engagement with the screw worm 7from the same direction as the one in which the hose clamp was appliedabout the object 9. Turning of the screw worm 7 results in the toothedwheel 6 being rotated, the latter in turn forcing the end portion 3 ofthe band to move through the housing 4 in one or other of two oppositedirections, depending on the direction of the turning movement given tothe screw worm 7. Consequently the hose clamp is made accessible bothfor tightening purposes and for loosening of the hose clamp about theobject 9.

The device in accordance with the invention is not limited to theembodiment illustrated with respect to achieving the desired directionof the screw worm 7. For instance, it would be possible to design thehead of the screw worm as a gear wheel or a toothed wheel with whichengages a second screw worm positioned at an angle to the firstmentioned screw worm. In accordance with this embodiment the firstmentioned screw worm could in the conventional way mesh with transversegrooves punched in the outwardly directed curved side of thedisplaceable end portion 3 of the hose clamp.

I claim:
 1. A hose clamp of annular configuration, comprising:a bandbent to an angular shape; said band having two opposite end portionsextending in an overlapping relationship through a housing; one endportion of said band being secured to said housing; the opposite endportion of said band being arranged for displacement through saidhousing; said housing enclosing a screw mechanism in engagement with arow of gear teeth formed in said opposite end portion of said band andby which said hose clamp is tightenable about an object; said screwmechanism including a screw worm arranged to tighten said hose clamp;said screw worm having threads; the rotational axis of said screw wormextending substantially in parallel with in parallel with a normalpassing through the centre of the annular configuration of said hoseclamp; said row of gear teeth being formed in said opposite end portionof said band and defining one lengthwise marginal edge of said band; andsaid screw mechanism further comprises a toothed wheel meshing with saidrow of gear teeth and with said screw worm threads.